Shorts 1 – Local Lens: Tallahassee
October 9 @ 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm EDT
Local Lens brings together three documentary short films that explore the people, places, and creative spirit that shape Tallahassee. From the erased history of Smokey Hollow, to the vibrant experimental arts community celebrated by Noise Feast, to the resilience and determination behind the FSU Flying High Circus’s comeback, these films offer a compelling look at the capital city’s past, present, and enduring sense of community.
Theater #1
In this program:
- Big Top: A Flying High Circus Story
- Local Art is Not a SCAM
- Echoes of Smoke: The Erasure of Smokey Hollow
About this Program
Big Top: A Flying High Circus Story
A film by James Alessandrelli, Allie Alessandrelli
The FSU Flying High Circus was devastated when a tornado blew down their tent. Before they can return to shows, they must rebuild what students refer to as their “home away from home.” Their comeback story is filled with laughter, passion, and collaboration.
2026 | 22 mins | US | Color | Documentary, Local Interest
The filmmakers James Alessandrelli, Allie Alessandrelli, and Celina Dezzuto are expected to be in attendance for a post-film discussion.
Local Art Is Not A SCAM
A film by Rob Yoho
Local Art is Not A SCAM is a Florida documentary that follows Alex O’Connell and Justin J. Moore, producers of Super Cool Awesome Music Services (SCAMS), and the mounting of their annual music and art festival known as Noise Feast, a 36-hour marathon event designed to showcase breadth and depth of the Tallahassee avant-garde arts scene.
2025 | 16 mins | US | Color | Documentary, Music, Art, Experimental
The filmmakers Rob Yoho, Lanie Whitaker, and Nicole Davis are expected to be in attendance for a post-film discussion.
Echoes Of Smoke: The Erasure Of Smokey Hollow
A film by Raniah Michelle Braclet
Before Cascades Park became the beautiful public park that the people of Tallahassee know now, it was Smokey Hollow, a tight-knit, working-class Black community. In the late 1800s to the 1960s, the State of Florida had an idea of a “picturesque look” for the drive into the capital city of Florida. Through public depictions of the community as “slums” and “dumps,” the Capitol gained public support. The leading figures in keeping this history alive detail the reality of the community that used to be located just outside Florida’s Capitol.
2025 | 18 mins | US | Color | Documentary, Social, Local Interest